New BP owner blues

[Quahog]

Yeah, that's my intial reaction too, Newbie No cooking my snake!

I'm using one of those UTH that looks like a big ol heat tape strip since I'm a bit suspect of the heavy plastic UTH's with fires etc. The chap I bought it from said I "didn't need a thermostat" since they don't draw much electricity. Though glad I got one since I'm not doing the best atm :\.

Ok, took another reading, as you guys went "Uhhhh too hot homie", it read 97. *head desk* Back down we go!

Maybe I should consider a new heat gun!

[MissterDog]

Is it the ultratherm heatpad?
http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

What size did you get? I'm guessing you've made absolutely sure that the probe is secured nice and tight? No possibility of it shifting around?

[Quahog]

That's it ! Yes, I have taped it down so there's no wiggly jiggle! I believe I got the 6x11, so only about 1/3 of the tank has the heater on the bottom

[Newbie39]

Yeah, that's my intial reaction too, Newbie No cooking my snake!

I'm using one of those UTH that looks like a big ol heat tape strip since I'm a bit suspect of the heavy plastic UTH's with fires etc. The chap I bought it from said I "didn't need a thermostat" since they don't draw much electricity. Though glad I got one since I'm not doing the best atm :\.

Ok, took another reading, as you guys went "Uhhhh too hot homie", it read 97. *head desk* Back down we go!

Maybe I should consider a new heat gun!

No worries about fires. Temps aren't high enough. I got the zoo med one.


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[MissterDog]

That's it ! Yes, I have taped it down so there's no wiggly jiggle! I believe I got the 6x11, so only about 1/3 of the tank has the heater on the bottom

I actually have the exact same size/model!

Is the heat pad pressed flat against the tub or is there a fair bit of arch/lift between the pad and bottom of your tub around where the probe is attached? If that makes sense?

Because if the probe is lifting it the pad enough where there isn't much contact then that may explain why you need to run your uth so hot just to get through the plastic. I actually bumped into this issue but fixed it by placing thin, flat strips of styrofoam where I wanted more contact, just not on the probe head directly.

I'm using a pvc cage (Animal Plastics T12, pretty thick bottom) and have mine set to 96 to get the my hot spot (under substrate) at a steady 89-91.

[Quahog]

Yay heat mat twins! ;D LOL!

Ohhh, you know what there is a bit of a gap now that you mention it! It looks like the bottom of tub may have arched up a bit because of the heating! That could explain the crappy heat transfer!

[MissterDog]

Yeah see if that helps! Also I'm taking a look at your picture and having a hard time telling if you are using a riser? Is that the board on the left of the tub? Is your heat pad actually taped against the tub?


(That moment when you realize you made a typo after the edit window has expired lol. I meant to say "of"your tub instead of "or" in my last post @-@)

[Quahog]

Ah yeah I did that to level the tub since the probe kind of made it crooked Per your suggestion I need to get it onto the tub. It's affixed to the top of my book shelf instead of the tub.

[MissterDog]

Ah yeah I did that to level the tub since the probe kind of made it crooked Per your suggestion I need to get it onto the tub. It's affixed to the top of my book shelf instead of the tub.

You might wanna try using risers or furniture pad for the tub itself to level and lift it evenly. Just enough for it to give space for your uth and probe, I found .5 inch or so was enough. That way you can tape your uth directly under your tub and keep it all neat and tidy

[Quahog]

Ah cool! Thanks again for the great suggestion !